Thailand is a name uttering which travelers start seeing images of sea, white sandy beaches, coconut trees leaning on the sea and islands, in front of their eyes. Certainly these are the prime attractions and biggest highlights of all Thailand tour packages. The Bangkok packages on the other hand focus mainly on the bustling city of Bangkok, it’s vibrant nightlife, shopping, food and night clubs. But how about starting a trip to Thailand by waking up before the sun rise and pray to the God of dawn-Sun? How about witnessing the first rays of reflecting from the floor of a historic temple to its walls, pillars and prangs? How about discovering the exquisite artworks and the unbelievable architecture of the temple which dates back to the early 19th century? Temples are not always about pilgrimage. At places they stand as specimens of the height of art and architecture that the civilization of that particular area had reached at some point of time. Wat Arun, the temple of dawn is that icon in Thailand and without paying a visit to the holy site; a trip to Thailand remains incomplete.

In Thai language, the word ‘wat’ stands for temples. Wat Arun has been named after Arun, a Hindu name for the Sun God. Wat Arun stands with its great grandeur on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River in the district of Bangkok Yai. The structure of Wat Arun might make you find some resemblance with the Eifel Tower in Paris since a broad base has gone up narrowing to end up as a tall tower. This main tower or the central prang is around 86 metres in height and is encrusted with colored porcelain. This tower is interpreted by the Buddhists as a stupa, and inside the temple, presides Lord Buddha. Stand at equal distance from the central tower are four corner satellite prangs and are decorated incredibly by porcelain and seashells. It is said that the image of Lord Buddha, made during the reign of Rama II was a self creation of the king.

As the first rays of the Sun hits the surface of the beautiful temple the artworks and designs get illuminated and you get to see the unbelievable artworks that do not only symbolize the artistic skills of the people of that era but also the patience and dedication that made this possible. Though Sunrise is the thing to watch at Wat Arun, the temple looks equally beautiful during the sunset. With its great structure that appears like a tower, Wat Arun makes fantastic silhouette against golden sky.

You can visit Wat Arun as a pilgrim, or to explore its art and architecture or simply as a riverside landmark. Majority of Bangkok packages include a trip to Wat Arun and hence you should not miss it. Check out Bangkok tour packages which include a stop at the amazing Temple of Dawn.